How To Keep Salmon From Sticking To The Grill:
Do yourself a favor and oil the grates! Its a quick step that will make grilling and flipping salmon so much easier. Oil the grates after preheating. To oil the grill, dip a folded paper towel in a high heat cooking oil . Use tongs to hold the oiled paper towel and rub over the hot grates. This also works great when making Grilled Salmon Skewers.
Cooking Salmon On A Gas Grill
To grill a tasty salmon, you need to purchase firm, fresh fillets. In addition to being firm and crisp,;ensure that the salmon is light pink in color and has smooth cuts to it.
Avoid buying fillets that have a fishy smell and steaks that indicate old cuts. To ensure that the fillets dont stick to the grill when barbecuing, dont forget to ask the fishmonger for skin-on fillets. Once you have made the purchase,;sprinkle kosher salt on the salmon as an added protective layer; doing this will ensure that the fillet does not stick or break apart while cooking.
Do You Grill Salmon On Both Sides
I prefer to grill salmon on both sides to get those beautiful grill marks that add color and browning you can only get from grilled salmon. This means more flavor. It’s not a requirement and, if using whole skinless salmon, it’s almost guaranteed to fall apart, so I prefer using skin-on salmon fillets.
You May Like: How To Bbq Chicken On The Grill
How To Marinate Salmon
It isnt necessary to marinate salmon before grilling it, but doing so can impart extra flavor and moisture to your finished fish. And you dont have to let your salmon marinate for long just 10 minutes will do. Make a simple marinade from a fat and acid in a 3:1 ratio, then add salt and an aromatic. We love Ina Gartens Asian Grilled Salmon, which has hundreds of five-star reviews and leans on a marinade made from olive oil , Dijon mustard , soy sauce and garlic . Drizzle the marinade on the salmon while you preheat the grill.
Watch Grilled Salmon Video Tutorial:
Watch Natasha make this amazing salmon on the grill and learn all of our best tips and tricks for easy flipping and preventing salmon from sticking to the grill. Grilled salmon is quick and easy to make, and infused amazing flavor. That flavored butter is so good, we even used it on Grilled Corn on the Cob.
Your family and dinner guests will be humming over this salmon recipe. Its sure to become your go-to salmon recipe for grilling season.
Read Also: How To Grill Bbq Chicken
Grilled Salmon = Easy Grilling
When it comes to grilling, salmon is one of the quickest and easiest proteins to grill as long as you follow a few simple steps.
Our grilled salmon recipe is made flavored with the basics so that you can serve your salmon in many different ways. Try eating it next to your favorite grilled veggies, in a rice bowl, or in a breakfast scramble!
When Do I Know My Salmon Is Ready To Come Off The Grill
Your salmon steaks should be pink and somewhat translucent before you attempt to take them off the grill. You can also put a spatula underneath one steak and lift it slightly. Is it holding itself together well? If so, its a sign that its ready to come off. If the fish is still falling apart, then its probably not cooked enough yet.
Salmon will continue cooking for a few minutes after you pull it from the grill, just like steak does. Youll want to take it off the grill before its completely done to avoid cooking it too much. The final cooked temperature of salmon and other fish, according to the United States Department of Agriculture , is 145 degrees Fahrenheit. So, you should remove the grilled salmon when it reaches about 125-130-degrees. Allow it to rest for another five minutes before rechecking the temperature with a digital meat thermometer to see if it reaches 145 degrees.
Read Also: How To Grill Boneless Chicken Breast
How To Make Garlic Lime Butter:
This amazing flavored butter is used to marinate, baste, and then brush the salmon once its off the grill.
1. In a saucepan, melt butter and add smashed garlic, salt, and black pepper. Simmer 1 minute until fragrant then add chopped dill and lime juice and immediately remove from heat.
Cooks Tip: Smashing the garlic infuses great garlic flavor into the butter sauce without burning on the grill.
To Make The Best Grilled Salmon In Foil Start By Selecting The Best Fish
- Use a fresh salmon fillet, about 3 pounds.;Look for salmon that is bright pink in color, smells fresh but not fishy, and, if possible, is wild caught.; I prefer wild caught salmon because it has richer flavor,;but;if you want milder flavor, than farm-raised Atlantic salmon might be the way to go. ;Atlantic salmon can cook up watery or mushy due to the artificial diet but I have had success with farm raised salmon from Costco, they seem to have higher quality suppliers.;
- Do I grill salmon in foil with the skin on or off?; For Grilled Salmon in Foil, you want the skin off.; The skin wont get crispy because the fish is being steamed on the grill and we dont need the foil to hold the fish together because the foil does that for us.; Sometimes it can be hard to tell if the salmon fillet at the store has skin on or off, so make sure to inspect or just ask the seafood counter to remove the skin for you.
Read Also: How To Grill Bone In Pork Chops
Tips On How To Grill Salmon Skin Side Down
Grilled salmon is simple and fast. There are a few key tips that you should know when you are grilling salmon so that it doesnt stick to the grates, fall apart or become overcooked.
Allow for your salmon to rest on the counter for 10-15 minutes before you grill it. Also, check and make sure that it is still fresh before you go through all of the trouble of grilling it. You can read up on how to tell if salmon has gone bad here.
One of the most important tips is to cook with the skin side down. And second, knowing when your salmon is done. Read this post on how to tell when salmon is cooked.
You get a different flavor profile when you grill salmon rather than baking it or pan-searing it. When cooking with the skin on your salmon, nothing crisps up that skin better than grilling it.
How To Season Your Salmon
The great thing about BBQ salmon is that its going to taste amazing even with a simple seasoning of salt and pepper. But, if you want to be more creative with your flavorings, you can also try the following savory seasoning combinations that are sure to make your mouth water.
-
Lemon Salmon: lemon, kosher salt, pepper, butter.
-
Cilantro Lime Salmon: chopped cilantro, lime, kosher salt, pepper, honey, chopped cloves.
-
Spicy Sriracha-Glazed Salmon: sriracha, lemon juice, honey.
-
Soy-Glazed Salmon: soy sauce, honey, mustard, and lemon juice.
-
Salmon with Homemade Barbecue Sauce: lemon, garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, water, and olive oil.
Read Also: Should The Grill Be Open Or Closed
Let The Grilling Begin
As soon as you feel that the gas grill is ready, adjust the heating to a low-heat setting. To get the best;grilled salmon, start placing the marinated fillets with the skin side up.;Close the lid of the gas grill for cooking. The cooking time for each side of the fillet is mentioned above.;Once you feel that one side of the fillet is cooked perfectly,;remove the lid and flip the fillets with a thin spatula.;Repeat the same procedure for the skin side.
If you want to add another layer of taste, rub both;sides with olive oil or butter. Also, dont forget to place the salmon pieces;at an equal distance so that they cook evenly. If set at the right heating temperature, a one-inch thick piece takes 10 minutes to cook thoroughly.
The appearance of white beads on the salmons surface and sides;indicate that the fish is now overcooking. Remove the fish immediately upon;noticing these signs.
Grilled Salmon Skin Up Or Down
If you have never had grilled salmon you are in for a real treat. It is simple to do so dont let it intimidate you.
You may have grilled fish before only for it to fall apart right on the grates ruining dinner and making quite a mess on your grill. Well, I have a few tips for you.
When you are grilling salmon you want to grill it with the skin side down on the grates. There are a few reasons why you want the skin side down so lets get into it. Also, check out my post on the top 10 sides to serve with salmon.
Should grilled salmon be grilled with the skin up or down? Salmon should be grilled with the skin side down.
Grilling salmon with the skin side down helps to hold the fish together and keeps it from sticking to the grates.
Read Also: Where To Buy Weber Gas Grills
Getting The Salmon Ready
While the gas grill is being prepared, brush the salmon fillets with your favorite dry rub or marinade. While marinating the pieces, you need to be wary of the time. Marinating the salmon long enough causes the fillet to lose its firmness and flavor.
Before you start grilling, estimate the cooking time for each fillet, a fillet that is a half-inch thick requires about 4 minutes of cooking;i.e.;2 minutes of cooking per side.
Grilled Salmon With Garlic Lime Butter
Grilled Salmon with garlic lime butter is flaky, juicy, and cooked to perfection with crispy salmon skin. Brushing on the flavored butter makes each bite irresistible.
Were sharing our best tips for cooking salmon on the grill so it doesnt stick. Watch the video tutorial and see why we are so obsessed with this salmon recipe.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Don’t Miss: How To Grill For Beginners
Do You Have To Flip Salmon On The Grill
No. You dont have to. But if you want the grill marks on the salmon and a crust youll want to. I recommend to start grilling skin side down first because the skin can handle the majority of the high heat without burning the salmon. It will release from the grill without sticking so you can flip and grill flesh side down for 1-2 minutes to get those nice char marks and seared crust! YUM;
Grilled Salmon In Foil: Behind The Recipe
Grilling is practically a year-round thing at our house. Early Spring until late Fall, youll find John flipping burgers, chops, steakswell, just about anything, reallyat least two or three times a week. ;
Lately, weve been adding this salmon recipeto our regular grilling rotation. Whats surprising about that is for the longest time John believed he didnt even like salmon. Until we tried this delicious grilled salmon recipe!
Thats a big win for me because I love salmon. Now my hubbys the one who suggests we pick up salmon for the grill. You know what they say, happy wife, happy life! We first made this recipe over two years ago and my family whole-heartedly agrees that this truly is the BEST salmon theyve ever eaten.
I seriously cant even count how many times weve used this recipe to grill salmon. The marinade is so flavorful, the salmon is tender and flaky, and clean up is a breeze. This recipe is always a winner with our crowd and has become one of our go-to options because it is SO easy and SO tasty!
Please share!
Your shares are how this site grows and I appreciate each one. Do you know someone who would enjoy this recipe? Id love it if you would share it on;;or on your favorite;;board!
First Published: November 27, 2015.
Read Also: How To Make Good Grilled Chicken
Essential Tools We Recommend
For starters, youll need to decide the right type of grill for your cooking stylegas or charcoal. You cant go wrong with the Napoleon 18-inch Charcoal Kettle grill if cooking over briquettes or lump charcoal is in your future. If you decided to go for gas grills, look to the Weber Spirit II E-310. Short on patio space? Go portable with the Weber Q 1200 portable gas grill.
Its also helpful to have a thin, long-handled spatula and a pair of long grill tongs for greasing the grill grates.
About This Grilled Salmon Recipe
This Grilled Salmon in Foil is a happy accident.;; I was going to make grilled salmon directly on the grill, but my husband accidently purchased skinless salmon, so I quickly came up with this recipe.; And honestly, I have never sunk my teeth into more tender, moist salmon in my life.; Part of that is the butter bath that drenches the salmon as it cooks, and part of it is the trapped moisture in the foil that makes for the juiciest salmon of your life.
As far as the flavor profile, I was inspired by my Cajun Honey Mustard Chicken with only rave reviews.; There are tons of garlic butter salmon recipes out there, and you certainly make this recipe with my version , but the Cajun Honey Mustard is intoxicating. Its a marriage of paprika, garlic, cayenne forward Cajun seasonings with honey mustard sauce spiked with orange juice and soy sauce.;;Its sweet, tangy, full of flavor and one of the most rewarding recipes of the season.
Lastly, what truly elevates this recipe is that its dotted with cubes of Danish Creamery butter before being sealed and grilled.; The butter melts as the salmon cooks, mingling with marinade and creating a drool worthy decadent, buttery sauce youll want to drink. Spoon this self-made butter sauce over the grilled salmon and drool.
Don’t Miss: Which Is The Best Grill To Buy
How To Know When Salmon Is Done Baking
- The question that scares so many newbies to fish cooking! Here are the best tips to tell when your salmon is done.
- You can check for doneness by taking a sharp knife and peeking into the thickest part of your baked salmon piece. If it is beginning to flake, but still has a little translucency in the middle, it is done, or once your salmon flakes easily with a fork, its done.
- Best option: Use an;instant read thermometer like this one.;The FDA recommends cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
- I find that salmon and other fish will continue to cook as they rest after being removed from the oven. I typically remove my salmon early , cover the salmon with foil, then let it rest for about 5 minutes. The resting time allows the fish to come up to 145 degrees F.
- Depending upon your cut of salmon, the fish will likely be pink when it is done and some varieties like coho are naturally a very deep, almost ruby pink. They key is that it is opaque and flakes easily. If its a translucent-looking pink, its likely not done. Again, testing with an instant read thermometer will remove any doubts.
How To Make Lemon Pepper Salmon
The Ingredients
- Salmon. You can make baked salmon with the skin on or off. I prefer my lemon pepper salmon with the skin on for ease .
- The skin peels off easily after your salmon is cooked, so you can remove it before serving or just eat around it on your plate. That said if you prefer your baked salmon without skin, you can either select it that way at the grocery store. If it doesnt come that way to begin with, the seafood will often remove it for you.
- Its important to look for high-quality, wild-caught varieties of salmon. Where I shop, that usually means coho, sockeye, or kingmost of the time I choose coho or sockeye . Try to avoid farm-raised, fatty Atlantic salmon. They are often fed an artificial diet and contain less nutrients. This type of salmon is typically more watery as well, which can cause your salmon dish to become mushy.
Recipe Steps
Recommended Reading: Who Sells Cuisinart Gas Grills
Herbs And Spices That Pair Well With Grilled Salmon
Salmon has a flavor all its own thats intensified on the grill. Still, tossing on a few herbs and spices can never hurt! Like most meats, grilled salmon gets even more flavorful with a little black pepper and salt added to both sides. Minced fresh ginger and garlic are also delicious choices depending on your recipe.
What other tasty additions can you sprinkle on salmon before you cook it? Try:
- Lemon pepper
